1989: The decline of the Soviet space program begins. With glasnost, scientists’ and technicians’ complaints about the poorly managed program surface. With perestroika, in 1989, citizens elect party representatives who reduce the enormous expenditures for the space program. The failure of Phobos 2 doesn’t help… In 1989, space still absorbs 1.5% of GDP. Then the number of launches collapses. Energiya and Buran are canceled due to lack of funding. By 1994, the workforce has collapsed to 300,000 people. The budget is 0.23% of GDP, compared to the US’s 0.97%. The United States launches more satellites than Russia, for the first time in a generation. In 1996, Mars 96 also crashes into the Andes (to save hard currency needed to make diesel, a ship is not sent to monitor the engine burn, which was considered critical).
